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ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2164
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session
By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Benton, Pelesky, Smith, Hargrove and Campbell)
Read first time 02/05/96.
AN ACT Relating to arming community corrections officers; adding a new section to chapter 72.02 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 72.02 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Community corrections officers may, at their discretion, carry firearms during the course of their official field duties. The department shall not be responsible for providing or paying for any firearms, materials, equipment, or training associated with implementation of this policy. A community corrections officer who chooses to be armed pursuant to this section shall, at his or her own expense, arrange for and complete any necessary training. In addition, a community corrections officer who chooses to be armed pursuant to this section shall, at his or her own expense, provide his or her own firearm as well as any associated materials and equipment needed by the community corrections officer in order to carry a firearm.
(2) Nothing in this section may be construed as making community corrections officers eligible for membership in the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system under chapter 41.26 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) By December 1, 1996, the criminal justice training commission shall set the following standards and requirements for implementing this act.
The commission shall determine the types of firearms that community corrections officers shall be permitted to carry and the permissible types of ammunition. The commission shall also set standards determining what constitutes necessary training. In so doing, the commission shall specify the nature of training that community corrections officers must complete and/or the level of competency community corrections officers must demonstrate in order to carry firearms pursuant to section 1 of this act. This may include periodic refresher training courses or competency reviews.
(2)(a) Prior to determining the standards and requirements in subsection (1) of this section, and no later than May 1, 1996, the criminal justice training commission shall convene an advisory board to make recommendations for developing these standards and requirements. The advisory board shall have the following members:
(i) Two individuals designated by the commission who have been certified and approved by the commission to provide firearms instruction;
(ii) Two community corrections officers who are designated by the exclusive bargaining unit representing community corrections officers; and
(iii) One representative from the department of corrections designated by the secretary of the department of corrections.
(b) The recommendations of the advisory board shall be delivered to the criminal justice training commission no later than September 1, 1996.
(3) The department of corrections shall implement the policy contained in this act allowing community corrections officers to carry firearms no later than January 1, 1997, but not before the criminal justice training commission has determined standards and requirements pursuant to this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
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